"When I saw the list, I saw it was extremely long, and so I decided to buy only the items relating to Hitler personally," said Chatila, "I decided to purchase the items 24 hours before the auction itself even started, they had to check who I was in order to make sure I'm not a Nazi or a pro-Nazi."

Auction page for Hitler's top hat

I think Rabbi Margolin's intention was to stop the spread of evil, so I decided to do my part. We both helped each other by focusing on the same subject and doing the right thing. If not for Margolin's pleas, I would have never even heard of the auction."

Auction page for Hitler's cigarette case

Chatila said that he intends to donate the items to Keren haYesod, an official fundraising organization for Israel with branches in 45 countries around the globe and that he will not interfere with any decision the organization makes regarding what to do with the items.

"It's important to use these items to face holocaust denial," said Chatila, "it's important to show kids that Hitler was real, along with the evil he represents."

Rabbi Menachem Margolin

(Photo: Dafna Friedman)

Chatila reportedly spent some 600,000 euros on the items, that includes Hitler's top hat - which in and on itself costs 50,000 euros, a framed copy of 'Mein Kampf' with a personal dedication to prominent Nazi politician Hermann Goering, a silver cigarette case, a music box and typewriter belonging to Hitler's secretary, an ashtray, framed pictures, letters addressed to Hitler, and assorted silverware belonging to the Nazi dictator.

"Such a conscience, such an act of selfless generosity to do something that you feel strongly about is the equivalent of finding a precious diamond in an Everest of coal," the EJA chairman wrote Chatila in a letter provided to the Associated Press.